Highlights

SHOWING OUT: FANTASY FESTIVAL

90 MILES TO CUBA, 0 MILES TO THE TWILIGHT ZONE

PHOTOS + WORDS BY ERIKA FLYNN

Key West is anything but low-key during their week-long Halloween rager.

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Come one, come all, come short, come tall, come big, come small, come in the greatest costume … or no costume at all! In Key West, anything goes, and yes, that means, anything. For the past 38 years, this tropical island on the most southern tip of the United States (only 90 miles to Cuba, seriously) has been taking Halloween to an entirely new level. Every year, the Fantasy Festival wreaks havoc across the tiny New Orleans-esque town one week before the spooky holiday, with daily themes, parades, street performers and participants young and old, doing the absolute most … while wearing the absolute least.
Every night, different parties bring different themes, however, creativity is welcomed. Plaid night at Captain Tony’s, Tutu Tuesdays, Red night at Fogarty's, and the Kinky Karnival (that takes place in what feels like an assisted living home on acid) are merely suggestions for party-goers, as showing up in an LED rainbow bunny get-up is still highly acceptable. Hugh Hefner’s were out and about this year, and we’re not even entirely sure if they were in costume. We went undercover (translation: took off all our clothes) at the kinkiest carnival in the country, where no one has anything to hide, and insecurities are the minority. Take a look below through the freakiest film portrait series you’ve yet to lay eyes on.